Frequently Asked Questions About Decision Provenance
This page addresses common questions and clarifies the scope and limits of the concept.
Is decision provenance the same as an audit trail?
No. Audit trails record actions or events. Decision provenance preserves decision context, judgement and outcome.
Is decision provenance about proving decisions were correct?
No. Decision provenance does not assess decision quality. It preserves what was known and how judgement was exercised at the time a decision was made.
Is this a compliance or regulatory requirement?
Decision provenance is a conceptual construct. It may support compliance or governance obligations, but it is not itself a regulation or standard.
Is decision provenance only relevant for AI?
No. AI-assisted systems amplify evidentiary risk, but decision provenance applies to any consequential decision where later explanation may be required.
Can decision provenance be reconstructed later?
Not reliably. Reconstruction relies on incomplete records and retrospective inference.